Speaking with our Holy Father
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (NIV) 1 John 5:14
Every time we open up our Bible, God is speaking to us. Every time we pray to God, we are speaking to our Holy Father. Prayer is one of the most important habits that Christians need to get into. It is well documented that Jesus prayed. He prayed alone, he prayed for others, he had a close relationship with God. Prayer was part of his life and we are encouraged to imitate that (Ephesians 5:1).
One may ask why do I need to pray if God knows what is in my heart? It is true God knows what is in our heart, he is also ahead of us and he knows how our life will unfold. Prayer brings us closer and helps us have an intimate relationship with him. I remember when I use to struggle about why and what to pray for. I was scared a lot of times to ask God for anything. I thought he created me so I should only be thankful for what I have. But as I grow each day as a Christian, I started to understand how beautiful it is to be a child of God and that I am at liberty to ask anything in accordance with God’s will and I will receive it (1 John 5:14).
We need to also open up to one another. On a daily basis we are going to struggle with issues, therefore, I find it extremely helpful to be involved in a prayer group or a community or perhaps a friend who we trust and can discuss issues with. If you follow Paul's letters, we can see that he always had a part where he took the time to pray for someone, a church, or for the work he was doing. Paul's prayers were not just about him it was about the work he was doing. It was about the brothers and sisters who were struggling and needed his prayers and prayers of others, so that they may stand firm against the schemes of the enemy. We need to imitate Paul's wonderful example. We need to love one another, help one another and comfort one another so that people can feel comfortable opening up to us and ask for prayers. We should not let our prayer life be just about ourselves let us also seek what others are in need of.
Our lives are filled with potholes that need repair and what better way to fix them than Prayer?